math help

What is 9/48 + 2/11?

What is 9/48 + 2/11?

Here's how to add

9
48
+
2
11

Step 1

Of course, you can't add two fractions if the denominators (bottom numbers) don't match. To get a common denominator, multiply the denominators together. Then we fix the numerators by multiplying each one by their other term's denominator.

Now you multiply 9 by 11, and get 99, then we multiply 48 by 11 and get 528.

9/48 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 48, and get 96, then multiply 48 by 11 and get 528.

2/11 times 48

The problem now has new fractions to add:

99
528
+
96
528

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

99 + 96 = 195

The sum we get is

195
528

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

195
528
÷ 3 =
65
176

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 11...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 19...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 23...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

No good. 67 is larger than 65. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 9/48 + 2/11

9
48
+
2
11
=
65
176
© 2014 Randy Tayler